This document provides an overview of significant events and developments in the Christian church between AD 100-300. It discusses the rise of false teachings like Gnosticism and Marcionism and the response of early Christian apologists in defending orthodox doctrine. It also describes changes in church structure as leadership roles became more clearly defined and congregations began meeting in dedicated buildings. Important figures that defended the faith through their writings and martyrdom are highlighted, including Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Perpetua, and Origen. The document also discusses Roman persecution of Christians in the mid-3rd century over refusal to participate in imperial birthday celebrations that involved pagan sacrifices.

1. 100-300 AD
Church History

2. Significant Stuff – AD 100-300
Terms
Changing Church Structure
False Teachings Marcionism
Gnosticism
Montanism?
Apologists Justin Martyr
Polycarp
Tertullian
Origin
Rome’s Birthday/Sacrifice Certificates

3. Terms
– Apologist
– Canon
– Gnosticism
– Heresy
– Libellus (certificate of sacrifice)
– Pope

4. Review Game

5. Changing Church Structure
Bible/Early Church
- Different words to describe the same role
- Elder – Older or mature man
- Bishop - Overseer
- Pastor - Shepherd
- A group of equal elders led congregations in homes
By 3rd Century
– Switch happened in an attempt to preserve truth and fight heresy
– One overseer directed other elders in each city
– Congregations began to meet in buildings
– City overseers were call popes (Latin – fathers)
Titus 1:6-9
An elder must be blameless,
faithful to his wife, a man
whose children believe[b]
and are not open to the
charge of being wild and
disobedient. 7 Since an
overseer manages God’s
household, he must be
blameless—not overbearing,
not quick-tempered, not
given to drunkenness, not
violent, not pursuing
dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he
must be hospitable, one
who loves what is good, who
is self-controlled, upright,
holy and disciplined. 9 He
must hold firmly to the
trustworthy message as it
has been taught, so that he
can encourage others by
sound doctrine and refute
those who oppose it.

8. Significant Stuff – AD 100-300
Terms
Changing Church Structure
False Teachings Marcionism
Gnosticism
Montanism?
Apologists Justin Martyr
Polycarp
Tertullian
Anthony
Origin
Rome’s Birthday/Sacrifice Certificates

9. False Teachings
Gnosticism
– Physical world is evil
– World is governed by angels, not God
– God is far away, not near
– Salvation can be earned by learning secret knowledge

10. False Teachings
– Marcionism
• Developed by Marcion
– Beliefs
Old Testament God Wrathful
Not the same as the Father of Jesus
Physical Realm Bad Jesus was a ghost
No sex, even between spouses
Marcion’s Bible Only 11 books
Revised Luke’s Gospel and the Letters of Paul

11. Jefferson Bible

12. Response to Gnosticism and Marcionism
False Claims Biblical Reponses Notations
Physical World is
Bad
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase
in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the
sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that
moves on the ground’ … God saw all that he had made, and it
was very good. And there was evening, and there was
morning—the sixth day” (Genesis 1:28, 31)
God created the world good. The Fall
brought sin into this world. Jesus
came for the restoration of all things.
- Personal Salvation
- Social
- Political
- Physical World
Jesus was not a
human; God is
far off
“The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us” (John
1:14).
As the perfect mediator, Jesus added
full humanity to his full godhood. He
is fully God and fully man. Also, he is
near, not far off.

13. Response to Gnosticism and Marcionism
False Claims Biblical Reponses Notations
Salvation can be
Earned
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so
that no one can boast” (Eph 2: 8-9)
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
(Romans 10:13)
Salvation is a free gift. Whoever
believes that Jesus die for theirs sins,
was buried, and rose on the third day
will be forgiven and accepted into
God’s kingdom.
Old Testament
God is not the
Same as the
New Testament
God
Context: Satan tempting Jesus in the Wilderness
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You
shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
(Matthew 4:10, quoted Deut. 6:13)
Jesus often quoted the Old Testament
and encouraged people towards
Yahweh worship
Jesus also identified himself as Yahweh
(John 8:58).

14. Apologists – Defenders of Truth
Faithfulness & Arguments
– Justin Martyr
– Polycarp
– Irenaeus
– Tertullian
– Perpetua
– Origin

15. Justin Martyr (100-165)
– Non-Christian Philosopher
– On a walk, he met an elderly Christian man
– The man was kind and quoted Jewish prophecies to show the truthfulness of
Christianity
– Justin came to the Lord
– One of the earliest apologists
– Works
– Apology – Called out the Emperor for persecuting Christians
– Dialogues with Trypho – Tries to convince Jewish people to accept Jesus
– Killed by Roman authorities in 165 AD
– Tortured and Beheaded
“You can kill us, but
cannot do us any real
harm”

16. WHICH BOOK OF BIBLE?
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

18. Bio – Polycarp (AD 69 – 155)
– Bishop of Smyrna
– People in Smyrna opposed Christians
– Called them “atheists” because they didn’t sacrifice to gods
– Unpatriotic
– End of life – Polycarp hid from authorities (farm)
– Police tortured a slave boy to find his location
– They caught Polycarp, and he made a final request
– Pray for one hour
– Brought before proconsul
– “Take the oath, and I shall release you. Curse Christ.”
– Polycarp refused to worship the sacrifice to the gods; burned alive
– Polycarp testimony spread and inspired other Christians to be courageous unto
death.
“Eighty-six years
have I served him,
and he never did me
any wrong. How can
I blaspheme my king
who has saved me?”

20. Bio – Irenaeus and Tertullian
Mostly known for their works
- Irenaeus
- Against Heresies
- Response to Gnosticism
- Tertullian
- African man
- Help to explain and defend the Trinity
- God is one substance in three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit)
“As soon as a man
has been won over
to their way of
salvation
(Gnosticism), he
becomes so puffed
up with conceit and
self-importance that
he struts about with
the air of a rooster.”

22. Perpetua (181-203) and Felicity
– Perpetual and her servant, Felicity, were taken on 203 AD
– Felicity was seventh months pregnant; she gave birth in prison
– Perpetua’s son stayed with her in prison
– Perpetual’s father visited her often in prison; he pleaded with her to renounce
Jesus.
– Perpetual and Felicity were bound with a net
– Wild cow repeatedly trampled on top of them; they were eventually killed with
the sword.
“My father immediately
appeared with my boy, and
withdrew me from the step,
and said in a supplicating
tone, 'Have pity on your
babe.' And Hilarianus the
procurator, who had just
received the power of life and
death … said, 'Spare the grey
hairs of your father, spare the
infancy of your boy, offer
sacrifice for the well-being of
the emperors.' And I replied, 'I
will not do so.' Hilarianus said,
'Are you a Christian?' And I
replied, 'I am a Christian.' And
as my father stood there to
cast me down from the faith,
he was ordered by Hilarianus
to be thrown down, and was
beaten with rods. And my
father's misfortune grieved
me as if I myself had been
beaten, I so grieved for his
wretched old age.”
Perpetua

23. Origen (186-253)
– Born in 185 to Christian parents
– In 201 AD, Origen’s father was imprisoned for Christ and eventually killed
• Origen wanted to die a martyr like his father
• His mom hid his clothes to keep him indoors
– Origen taught many Christian beliefs yet was off in some areas as well.
• God will restore all things to a sinless state (even Satan) … universalism?
• Renounced the physical
• Only drank water
• Did not wear shoes
• Misinterpretation of Luke 19:12
• He castrated himself
Luke 19:11-12
Jesus replied, “Not
everyone can accept this
word, but only those to
whom it has been given.
12 For there are eunuchs
who were born that way,
and there are eunuchs
who have been made
eunuchs by others—and
there are those who
choose to live like
eunuchs for the sake of
the kingdom of heaven.
The one who can accept
this should accept it.”
CONTEXT: Jesus is
speaking on divorce

24. Rome’s Birthday/Sacrifice Certificates
– AD 247
– Rome turned 1,000 years old
– Citizens celebrated for 3 days (included pagan practices)
– Christians refused to participate
– Soon after the day, a plague broke out
– Romans accused Christians of angering the gods
– Emperor Decius responded with persecuation (until 251)

25. Rome’s Birthday/Sacrifice Certificates
Option 1 Option 2
Sacrifice to the pagan gods Refuse to participate
Receive a certificate Receive imprisonment, torture, and/or death
– Many Christians suffered for their faith
– Others compromised
– After 251 AD (Emperor’s death), persecuation died down for a few years
– The church had to decide on whether to accept Christians that received a certificate
TO ACCEPT OR NOT TO ACCEPT (Congregants? Elders?)

26. Practical Takeaways
– Patriotism and Christianity are not always compatible.
– Christians are called to preserve God’s truth and oppose false ideas.
 Creation
 Fall (Genesis 3)
 OT Anticipation (Isaiah 53)
 Redemption (Ephesians 2:8-9)
 New Heavens/New Earth

27. Practical Takeaways
– Apologetics happens through intellectual responses and faithful living.
– 1 Peter 3: 14-18
– 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b];
do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give
an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do
this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is
better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered
once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in
the body but made alive in the Spirit.